Jury sees interview of man accused of child pornography

Anthony Hanifan, 38, right, enters the courtroom late Wednesday afternoon in Sarasota. He is accused of taking photos of himself molesting a child.

Staff Photo by Thomas Bender

By SHANNON McFARLAND

Published: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 6:20 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 6:20 p.m.

SARASOTA - With prosecutors moving swiftly through evidence in the trial of Anthony Hanifan, who is accused of making and sending pornography of a 2-year-old from his North Port home, the jury heard the beginning of his recorded interview Wednesday evening.

The 38-year-old had no criminal record when was arrested in October 2011, in connection with a Massachusetts child pornography investigation. Detectives had identified a phone number, belonging to a North Port man known only as “Florida 3Y,” who was suspected of recording himself repeated sexually abusing a child. The number was traced to Hanifan, who prosecutors say admitted to 10 out of the 11 counts during the recorded interview with detectives that lasted more than three hours. The felony charges against him include sexual battery of a child, molesting a child, cruelty toward a child and transmitting child pornography.

If convicted, he could face multiple life sentences.

Jason Clark, the 31-year-old Massachusetts man who reportedly told detectives about photos sent by “Florida 3Y” that he deleted from his collection of child pornography, is now facing an eight-count federal indictment which includes accusations of recording himself molesting a child and possessing more than 40 images of child pornography. Clark testified in Hanifan's trial, identifying the emails and photos sent to him by “Florida 3Y.”

North Port Police detectives had contacted Hanifan about two days after receiving the information from Massachusetts State Police, asking him to come to the police station for a voluntary interview. They just needed some information, they told him, first chatting with him about his family, computer use and anyone he keeps in contact with outside Florida.

Nearly an hour into the interview, Hanifan admitted there was a man out of state he communicates with.

“I know him through the Internet, I email him,” Hanifan told the detectives in the interview. While he gave short, sometimes vague answers about his online conversations, detectives continued to pry about about any conversations with a Massachusetts man known as “Jay.”

After more than an hour of watching the video interview, Judge Donna Berlin instructed the jury and attorneys to return this morning to continue the trial.

<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - With prosecutors moving swiftly through evidence in the trial of Anthony Hanifan, who is accused of making and sending pornography of a 2-year-old from his North Port home, the jury heard the beginning of his recorded interview Wednesday evening. </p><p>The 38-year-old had no criminal record when was arrested in October 2011, in connection with a Massachusetts child pornography investigation. Detectives had identified a phone number, belonging to a North Port man known only as “Florida 3Y,” who was suspected of recording himself repeated sexually abusing a child. The number was traced to Hanifan, who prosecutors say admitted to 10 out of the 11 counts during the recorded interview with detectives that lasted more than three hours. The felony charges against him include sexual battery of a child, molesting a child, cruelty toward a child and transmitting child pornography. </p><p>If convicted, he could face multiple life sentences. </p><p>Jason Clark, the 31-year-old Massachusetts man who reportedly told detectives about photos sent by “Florida 3Y” that he deleted from his collection of child pornography, is now facing an eight-count federal indictment which includes accusations of recording himself molesting a child and possessing more than 40 images of child pornography. Clark testified in Hanifan's trial, identifying the emails and photos sent to him by “Florida 3Y.”</p><p>North Port Police detectives had contacted Hanifan about two days after receiving the information from Massachusetts State Police, asking him to come to the police station for a voluntary interview. They just needed some information, they told him, first chatting with him about his family, computer use and anyone he keeps in contact with outside Florida. </p><p>Nearly an hour into the interview, Hanifan admitted there was a man out of state he communicates with.</p><p>“I know him through the Internet, I email him,” Hanifan told the detectives in the interview. While he gave short, sometimes vague answers about his online conversations, detectives continued to pry about about any conversations with a Massachusetts man known as “Jay.”</p><p>After more than an hour of watching the video interview, Judge Donna Berlin instructed the jury and attorneys to return this morning to continue the trial.</p>